From the desk of Jim Snyder
The Panthers wrap up their fall camp
Pitt will wrap up their fall camp on Saturday with a session closed to the media. The players will also have Sunday off. I thought it might be good to summarize some camp thoughts. On offense the biggest area of concern seems to be wide receiver. It looks like it is very important for Greg Lee to get healthy and stay healthy. There does not seem to be a comfort level with the depth at wideout right now. The staff, however, heaps lots of praise on the tight ends. Matt Cavanaugh ran a lot of two tight end plays when he was with the Baltimore Ravens. Depending on down and distance I think you can look for the same this year at Pitt.
We said last week that the staff seems to be very happy with the offensive line and that extends beyond the starters. I hope they are right. They have been running against a beat up defensive front in practice. If the improvement is real Pitt will be successful in running the ball this year.
On defensive they love their cornerbacks. We think Josh Lay and Darrel Revis can play with anyone and we are not alone on this one. The corners will be up on receivers more often this year. There were a lot of bumps and bruises on the defense front and at outside linebacker at camp. You will see the defensive front four rotate and maybe some at outside linebacker to keep fresh troops on the field. It is very possible that defensive end Gus Mustakas and defensive tackle Rashaad Duncan could be on the two-deep chart when it is released early next week. Look for these two freshmen from Florida to play this year.
Part of the intrigue of the Pitt-Notre Dame game is that neither team has game film of each other. Both schools have new head coaches and new offensive coordinators. This past week we had “smoking gun” evidence that both coaching staffs were visiting Rivals sites covering the two schools to gather some ideas as what to expect in the opener. Something tells me both coaching staffs will be much happier once they are into the season and can actually use game film to scout their opponent. LOL!
Some odds and ends
If the Pantherlair continues at its present pace page views will be up 91% in August over the same month a year ago. We would like to take all the credit but we have to be realistic and give part of the credit to the hiring of Dave Wannstedt. Thank you coach!
Rivals.com is in the process of updating the roster and depth chart features. The initial set up has been completed. They will allow us to build on these features going forward. Today the depth chart is the one Pitt released at the start of fall camp to the media although we have modified it for a few obvious situations like Bill Stull being at back up quarterback. In past seasons Pitt has released an updated two-deep each Monday to the media. We will update ours as soon as they release theirs.
A few years ago the Pantherlair offered an e-mail service for free. Quite frankly the free service is an open sewer pipe. There is very little protection against a virus using this system. We suggest you use Comast, Yahoo, Google, Hotmail or some other similar service going forward. There are several reasons for our decision but this one of the reasons. There is better technology available. We will shut down the Pantherlair e-mail service in 90 days. We are giving you ample time to make other arrangements.
The Trading Post is open. The football season is here. If you have tickets to buy or sale please go to the trading posts. If you post on other boards they will eventually be moved to the Trading Post Message Board. If you have ticket to donate we have reference material on the lower left hand side of this page.
It is our understanding that the Pick ‘Em Contest will be available early next week so study up this weekend. It should work they same as last year’s contest. You select four games and tell us who the winners are.
Rivals.com president Shannon Terry was on Rivals Radio yesterday. He said that Rivals has recently hired 25 new reporters and now has about 250 reporting throughout the system. He also said that Rivals.com is the “stickiest sports” Internet site in the country. More time is spent on the Rivals system than any other site covering sports. Rivals.com will introduce a new national college football site next week. They will roll out other national sites over the next 90 days. All of it is an attempt to show of the power and depth of the Rivals network.
A quick look at some recruiting
We are coming out of a period where college recruiters are not permitted to telephone prospects. College coaches have been heavily involved in fall camps, as have high school prospects. Beginning September 1st they can talk via phone again. College recruiters will try and line up official visits. Now begins a period to sort out who is really in your top five. Prospects will hear those famous words, “You don’t want to go there the coach won’t be there when you get there.” I wonder if anyone is still saying that about Penn State these days?
We published a Pantherlair Top 10 this past week. We tried to consider who Pitt is chasing and who they had the best shot of landing. One flaw on the list might have come on the offensive line. Pitt has offered Daniel Wenger (6’ 4” 280) from St Thomas of Aquinas and Jeff Otah (6’ 7” 340) from Valley Forge Military Academy. Otah is in the junior college program. He comes from the same program as Pitt defensive tackle Phil Tillman.
If they can’t get Wenger or Otah you would like a tackle that is 6’ 5” or taller. If Pitt strikes out with the two above they might turn to Jared DeWalt (6’ 5” 292) from Brush High School in Ohio or Jake Miller (6’ 6” 330) from Tuscarawa Valley. The might also look to tight ends Andy Miller (6’ 6” 249) from Trinity or Jeff Minemyer (6’ 6” 2450 from Bishop Carroll and convert them into tackles. We think Pitt would like one (1) more offensive lineman. The guy they get may not yet have an offer.
Gateway’s Aaron Smith is scheduled to pick between Pitt and Maryland just before Gateway plays Cleveland Benedictine. Anything is possible but we think Aaron Smith will be a Panther come Saturday night.
We talked to Kevin Collier’s mother last weekend. She said he is nearing a decision and has it down to two schools. We think Pitt is one of them and he might be a Panther before the Labor Day weekend is over.
If Pitt lands Collier and Smith they would have verbal commitments from five 4-star players. Dave Wannstedt and his staff will have inched closer to a really solid recruiting class.
Pitt will have a number of player’s in Labor Day weekend. The Pitt staff has a very good chance with this group if they put a good show on against the Fighting Irish. Last night on ESPNews Dave Wannstedt told Chris Fowler that Pitt already had 13 recruits committed plus 8 coming in for a visit on Labor Day. He told Chris if they got lucky they might wrap up recruiting in September.
Note: Coach Wannstedt’s numbers might been a little off but his point was well taken. You never stop recruiting but they have a chance to have most of the hay in the barn sometime in September. Pitt actually has 14 commitments not 13. In addition they must account for grayshirt Kevin Hughes. We have 9 players coming in for an official visit plus defensive end McKenzie Matthews from Syracuse is supposed to make an unofficial visit. In addition there should be several local players in attendance including those that have already committed.
The War Room is targeted towards our premium customers. We ask that all information reported in the War Room MUST stay right here! That’s the way this deal works. When this information is repeated outside of the Between Fifth and Forbes forum it only cheapens the price of yours and every other die-hard who have purchased premium services. The War Room is one of our more popular features...thank you all for keeping the information on this board.
The Panthers wrap up their fall camp
Pitt will wrap up their fall camp on Saturday with a session closed to the media. The players will also have Sunday off. I thought it might be good to summarize some camp thoughts. On offense the biggest area of concern seems to be wide receiver. It looks like it is very important for Greg Lee to get healthy and stay healthy. There does not seem to be a comfort level with the depth at wideout right now. The staff, however, heaps lots of praise on the tight ends. Matt Cavanaugh ran a lot of two tight end plays when he was with the Baltimore Ravens. Depending on down and distance I think you can look for the same this year at Pitt.
We said last week that the staff seems to be very happy with the offensive line and that extends beyond the starters. I hope they are right. They have been running against a beat up defensive front in practice. If the improvement is real Pitt will be successful in running the ball this year.
On defensive they love their cornerbacks. We think Josh Lay and Darrel Revis can play with anyone and we are not alone on this one. The corners will be up on receivers more often this year. There were a lot of bumps and bruises on the defense front and at outside linebacker at camp. You will see the defensive front four rotate and maybe some at outside linebacker to keep fresh troops on the field. It is very possible that defensive end Gus Mustakas and defensive tackle Rashaad Duncan could be on the two-deep chart when it is released early next week. Look for these two freshmen from Florida to play this year.
Part of the intrigue of the Pitt-Notre Dame game is that neither team has game film of each other. Both schools have new head coaches and new offensive coordinators. This past week we had “smoking gun” evidence that both coaching staffs were visiting Rivals sites covering the two schools to gather some ideas as what to expect in the opener. Something tells me both coaching staffs will be much happier once they are into the season and can actually use game film to scout their opponent. LOL!
Some odds and ends
If the Pantherlair continues at its present pace page views will be up 91% in August over the same month a year ago. We would like to take all the credit but we have to be realistic and give part of the credit to the hiring of Dave Wannstedt. Thank you coach!
Rivals.com is in the process of updating the roster and depth chart features. The initial set up has been completed. They will allow us to build on these features going forward. Today the depth chart is the one Pitt released at the start of fall camp to the media although we have modified it for a few obvious situations like Bill Stull being at back up quarterback. In past seasons Pitt has released an updated two-deep each Monday to the media. We will update ours as soon as they release theirs.
A few years ago the Pantherlair offered an e-mail service for free. Quite frankly the free service is an open sewer pipe. There is very little protection against a virus using this system. We suggest you use Comast, Yahoo, Google, Hotmail or some other similar service going forward. There are several reasons for our decision but this one of the reasons. There is better technology available. We will shut down the Pantherlair e-mail service in 90 days. We are giving you ample time to make other arrangements.
The Trading Post is open. The football season is here. If you have tickets to buy or sale please go to the trading posts. If you post on other boards they will eventually be moved to the Trading Post Message Board. If you have ticket to donate we have reference material on the lower left hand side of this page.
It is our understanding that the Pick ‘Em Contest will be available early next week so study up this weekend. It should work they same as last year’s contest. You select four games and tell us who the winners are.
Rivals.com president Shannon Terry was on Rivals Radio yesterday. He said that Rivals has recently hired 25 new reporters and now has about 250 reporting throughout the system. He also said that Rivals.com is the “stickiest sports” Internet site in the country. More time is spent on the Rivals system than any other site covering sports. Rivals.com will introduce a new national college football site next week. They will roll out other national sites over the next 90 days. All of it is an attempt to show of the power and depth of the Rivals network.
A quick look at some recruiting
We are coming out of a period where college recruiters are not permitted to telephone prospects. College coaches have been heavily involved in fall camps, as have high school prospects. Beginning September 1st they can talk via phone again. College recruiters will try and line up official visits. Now begins a period to sort out who is really in your top five. Prospects will hear those famous words, “You don’t want to go there the coach won’t be there when you get there.” I wonder if anyone is still saying that about Penn State these days?
We published a Pantherlair Top 10 this past week. We tried to consider who Pitt is chasing and who they had the best shot of landing. One flaw on the list might have come on the offensive line. Pitt has offered Daniel Wenger (6’ 4” 280) from St Thomas of Aquinas and Jeff Otah (6’ 7” 340) from Valley Forge Military Academy. Otah is in the junior college program. He comes from the same program as Pitt defensive tackle Phil Tillman.
If they can’t get Wenger or Otah you would like a tackle that is 6’ 5” or taller. If Pitt strikes out with the two above they might turn to Jared DeWalt (6’ 5” 292) from Brush High School in Ohio or Jake Miller (6’ 6” 330) from Tuscarawa Valley. The might also look to tight ends Andy Miller (6’ 6” 249) from Trinity or Jeff Minemyer (6’ 6” 2450 from Bishop Carroll and convert them into tackles. We think Pitt would like one (1) more offensive lineman. The guy they get may not yet have an offer.
Gateway’s Aaron Smith is scheduled to pick between Pitt and Maryland just before Gateway plays Cleveland Benedictine. Anything is possible but we think Aaron Smith will be a Panther come Saturday night.
We talked to Kevin Collier’s mother last weekend. She said he is nearing a decision and has it down to two schools. We think Pitt is one of them and he might be a Panther before the Labor Day weekend is over.
If Pitt lands Collier and Smith they would have verbal commitments from five 4-star players. Dave Wannstedt and his staff will have inched closer to a really solid recruiting class.
Pitt will have a number of player’s in Labor Day weekend. The Pitt staff has a very good chance with this group if they put a good show on against the Fighting Irish. Last night on ESPNews Dave Wannstedt told Chris Fowler that Pitt already had 13 recruits committed plus 8 coming in for a visit on Labor Day. He told Chris if they got lucky they might wrap up recruiting in September.
Note: Coach Wannstedt’s numbers might been a little off but his point was well taken. You never stop recruiting but they have a chance to have most of the hay in the barn sometime in September. Pitt actually has 14 commitments not 13. In addition they must account for grayshirt Kevin Hughes. We have 9 players coming in for an official visit plus defensive end McKenzie Matthews from Syracuse is supposed to make an unofficial visit. In addition there should be several local players in attendance including those that have already committed.
The War Room is targeted towards our premium customers. We ask that all information reported in the War Room MUST stay right here! That’s the way this deal works. When this information is repeated outside of the Between Fifth and Forbes forum it only cheapens the price of yours and every other die-hard who have purchased premium services. The War Room is one of our more popular features...thank you all for keeping the information on this board.
